Yesterday was a complete trial. I was called in for my yearly kidney function and thyroid tests and I booked an appointment with the one nurse at my GP practice that can always easily get blood from me. I arrived to be told she was off sick. My panic level went up a notch as I've had terrible experiences with the other blood taking nurses there including the back of my hand swelling up like a balloon one time so I was in a bit of fear as I went into the exam room. The woman there was a local district nurse and as soon as she looked at my arm, announced 'oh dear, how am I going to find a vein?' WTF??? LOOK why don't you! Prod around a bit! That might be a good place to start FFS!!! After a quick prod, she was eying the back of my hand and I was thinking 'no you bloody don't!' and I had to suggest she looked at the other arm, which she did. By now my pulse was in overdrive!
She had one failed attempt and said 'what am I going to do now?' while I silently freaked out in the chair. She told me she was going to find the nurse that damaged my hand and said 'we can do it tag team...Teresa can prod your arm to find a vein then I'll jab you!' and off she went. My panic level was going into the red by now with visions of being held down in the chair and attacked! She came back alone, fretting that Teresa was with another patient and could be a while (no prizes for guessing WHY that was and I pity the patient) and wondered if I could just hang around the waiting room until she could find someone to help! Oh that was it...I was out of my chair trying not to have a meltdown and announced I was leaving. I just fled the room and my dad had to calm me down before driving us home. I don't know where they found her but her patient manner was horrible! You don't tell the patient you can't do it!!! You're supposed to show confidence and calm!!!
I was in a bit of a state most of the day, mulling it over and knowing I'll need to go back again at some point to get it done so by the time I was going to my bed, I was all over the place and had a full blown panic attack. My dad had to sit up with me for two hours before Isettled down enough to go back to my bed. Needless to say I didn't sleep well at all and I feel like crap this morning. WHY are the health professionals so bad at taking blood??? I seem to get this every time I go to someone other than Lorraine. She never has any problem taking it and it never hurts or bruises! Oh man I hope she is back at work very soon as I can't take another day like yesterday!
I'm thinking I need some retail therapy badly!!!
OH MY GOD! I would have had a full blown panic attack! That is horrible!! You definitely need some major retail therapy with lots of treats!! Gosh, I'm so sorry that happened. :( The last time I had my blood drawn, I had already warned the nurse that I get super lightheaded every time because I hate blood. At one point, the nurse said "Oh look! Your nail polish is the exact color of your blood!" Needless to say, I took that polish off as soon as I got home and tossed the bottle. Yuck!
ReplyDeleteI've had some horror stories! I think I would've thrown out that shade of nail varnish as well! As a kid when I was in hospital I got daily blood tests. We called the nurse The Vampire and dreaded if it was the doctor. His name was Dr Frankel but we called him Dr Frankenstein!
DeleteSorry that happened. Hopefully the good nurse is there next time. The same thing happened to my mom’s hand when she had blood taken out of it. Her hand swelled up huge. I don’t go to doctors because I can’t afford them, but the few times I had blood taken went pretty smoothly. I’m still not brave enough to donate blood, even though I know it could help people. I’m working up to that.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I hope so! I refuse to go back until someone competant is there! We do at least get the treatment free here which is huge or I'd be spending my book budget on healthcare bills. I'm not allowed to give blood so I can avoid feeling guilty about not doing it!
DeleteHow horrible. Yes retail therapy is definitely needed. I was at the ER once and a nurse tried 5 times to get blood. I walked out and stomach pain be damned. I have spider veins so now I just tell whoever to use the back of my hand. They look at me like I'm crazy and I tell them to trust me. Sorry you had such a rough time!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou'd think in the days of face transplants that they could have a pain and needle free way to take blood! Someone needs to be inventing something to do it!
DeleteI really feel for you on this because my Mum used to have exactly the same trouble. One nurse at her chemotherapy suggested holding her hand under (fairly) hot water for a few minutes to bring up the veins. This did work and the nurse was competent at then taking blood, but others in the unit did cause bruises and the like. There was one in particular that Mum refused to allow and, being so ill, she could throw a polite hissy fit about it!
ReplyDeleteI think my hissy fits might have been less than polite! When my mum got her cancer treatment she was always complaining about the nurses and doctors being rubbish at getting blood. I never used to be a problem patient but I seem to be now! Maybe I'm finally morphing into my new grumpy old woman persona!
DeleteSorry it was such a struggle for you at the doctors. It must have been really frustrating to get a healthcare professional who was not great at doing draws. *sympathetic hug* I have small veins, so they always have to take samples from my hand with a children's needle. It takes forever.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that one nurse can do it so easily really makes me wonder about the rest of them! Hug accepted! Oh dear, that sounds like quite an ordeal you have to suffer every time they take blood-you have my sympathy!
DeleteYikes. That sounds awful.
ReplyDeleteI've had that happen to me too several years ago. For some reason - no one has problems taking blood now. Or maybe I just have better techs. I also tend to pass out after. Luckily, I don't have to do it often.
I hope Lorraine gets back there soon so you can at least have a person you're comfortable with.
Karen @ For What It's Worth
I've got a bit uptight during blood taking failures in the past but I've never got into that state before. I've had more panic attacks this year (four) than in the last five years put together so I guess I better see the doctor in January!
DeleteI am so sorry that you had this experience. They seem to always be able to get from me pretty easily but I have noticed that some techs can do it virtually pain free while that is not the case with others. The worst is when they start an IV in a painful or uncomfortable spot and you have to deal with it for a long period of time. I once had a firefighter paramedic start an IV on me and he was the best at it by a long shot.
ReplyDeleteI know I need to go back but I'm waiting a few weeks to see if Lorraine is back! Maybe even January just to be sure...
DeleteOMG. I don't know about a panic attack, but I sure would have lost my patince.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
They don't exactly inspire confidence in the patients, that's for sure!
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